The Weight of Loyalty

Simon released his white-knuckled grip on the edge of the wooden table. He forced his breathing to steady, bringing his intense focus back to the woman sitting quietly across from him in the restaurant. Genevieve looked agonizingly fragile. Her dark hair was tucked carelessly behind her ears, framing a pale face devoid of makeup. She possessed a haunting, delicate beauty today, a morbid kind of qu